The Nantahala River is a tailwater in North Carolina, listed as Delayed Harvest by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 7 guides nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Great Smoky Mountains.
The Nantahala River and a footbridge in the Nantahala Gorge. Photo: Nader Moussa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nantahala River is a tailwater in North Carolina. Our destination hub Great Smoky Mountains is 22 mi away in a straight line (53 by road) and lists it among its waters.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Nantahala River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Nantahala River with 1 USGS gauge, and shops and guides with an exact address within 40 miles.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Nantahala River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of the restroom near Nantahala River
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 1 restroom near Nantahala River, numbered as in the list, with the water’s point marked.
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Freestone riverHazel Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina. Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina · about 13 mi
Freestone riverDeep Creek in autumn, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Bryson City, North Carolina. Photo: Patrick Mueller, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
North Carolina · about 19 mi
Freestone riverThe Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina · about 20 mi
Delayed HarvestThe Tuckasegee River from Old River Road, Bryson City. Photo: Matthew T. Bradley, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina · about 21 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Rough Ridge CreekAbrams Creek near the trailhead, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Scott Basford (Blinutne), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Rough Ridge Creek.
Tennessee · about 23 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Sycamore CreekThe lower Hiwassee River at Charleston, Tennessee (downstream of the trout tailwater). Photo: NPS National Trails Office, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Sycamore Creek.
Tennessee · about 23 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Delayed Harvest Trout Waters list (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
15.2 of 46.6 mi on public land
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
4 guides name it on their website
Franklin, NC · 20 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Chattooga & French Broad
Names this water
Cherokee, NC · 24 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Tuckasegee & Nantahala
Names this water
Cashiers, NC · 34 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Chattooga & Tuckasegee
Names this water
Mills River, NC · 58 mi
Float trips · Walk-and-wade · Nantahala & French Broad
Names this water
Bryson City, NC · 14 mi
Wade trips · Tuckasegee & Oconaluftee
Nearby
Bryson City, NC · 15 mi
Drift boat · Spey & two-handed · Clearwater & Tuckasegee
Nearby
Bryson City, NC · 18 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Hazel & Tuckasegee
Nearby
No shop nearby yet.
What 6 nearby guide websites mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 6 nearby guide websites
17 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Midges (all year) · Blue-winged olive (February to March, May, October to December) · Early black stonefly (February to March, October to December) · Blue Quill (March to April) · Quill Gordon (March to April) · Black caddis (April to May) · and 11 more on the chart
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the Tennessee–North Carolina line, with Gatlinburg and Townsend on the Tennessee side and Bryson City and Cherokee on the North Carolina side; the park's streams drain to the Little River, Little Pigeon, Oconaluftee and Tuckasegee.
Destination hub · 22 mi away in a straight line, 53 by road
A practical checklist for fly fishing small mountain trout streams: a short 3–4 weight rod, light line, a few buoyant dries and simple wet-wading gear, with estimated prices and where to buy.
7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Nantahala River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge NANTAHALA RIVER NEAR HEWITT, NC. Water type is our own classification.
Warning: Rising fast: be careful, conditions are changing
No water temperature here.
At NANTAHALA RIVER NEAR HEWITT, NC (USGS 03505550) Provisional USGS data
USGS 03505550 · NWS HEWN7
What the agencies suggest
Stand back from the shoreline and be aware of surroundingsRhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Wading and boating should be avoided if waters are running high and muddy and the streambed is not visiblePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT to Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST; ranging 64.3 to 672 ft³/s; latest 152 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST | 152 | 1.62 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM EST | 225 | 1.86 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM EST | 158 | 1.64 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM EST | 172 | 1.69 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM EST | 190 | 1.75 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM EST | 212 | 1.82 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM EST | 239 | 1.9 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM EST | 264 | 1.97 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM EST | 239 | 1.9 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM EST | 193 | 1.76 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM EST | 178 | 1.71 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM EST | 161 | 1.65 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM EST | 147 | 1.6 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM EST | 142 | 1.58 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM EST | 145 | 1.59 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM EST | 155 | 1.63 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM EST | 166 | 1.67 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM EST | 184 | 1.73 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM EST | 209 | 1.81 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM EST | 232 | 1.88 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM EST | 250 | 1.93 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM EST | 158 | 1.64 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM EST | 132 | 1.54 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM EST | 107 | 1.43 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM EST | 94.4 | 1.37 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM EST | 86.7 | 1.33 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM EST | 81.1 | 1.3 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM EST | 75.8 | 1.27 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM EST | 72.4 | 1.25 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM EST | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM EST | 64.3 | 1.2 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM EST | 64.3 | 1.2 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM EST | 64.3 | 1.2 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM EST | 64.3 | 1.2 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM EST | 64.3 | 1.2 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM EST | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM EST | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM EST | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM EST | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM EST | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM EST | 69.1 | 1.23 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM EST | 69.1 | 1.23 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM EST | 77.6 | 1.28 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM EST | 142 | 1.58 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM EST | 633 | 2.7 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM EST | 672 | 2.76 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM EST | 672 | 2.76 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM EST | 659 | 2.74 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM EST | 665 | 2.75 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM EST | 333 | 2.14 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM EST | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM EST | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM EST | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM EST | 69.1 | 1.23 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM EST | 88.6 | 1.34 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM EDT | 212 | 1.82 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM EDT | 342 | 2.16 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM EDT | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM EDT | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM EDT | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM EDT | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM EDT | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM EDT | 65.8 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM EDT | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM EDT | 67.4 | 1.22 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM EDT | 70.7 | 1.24 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT | 90.5 | 1.35 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM EDT | 218 | 1.84 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM EDT | 652 | 2.73 |
| Oct 29, 8:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 29, 7:15 PM EDT | 659 | 2.74 |
| Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT | 665 | 2.75 |
Normal for Nov 5: 138–483 ft³/s (middle half of 21 years of record). Now: 152 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 152 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 21 years of record (2006–2026): 10th 44, 25th 138, median 324, 75th 483, 90th 770 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 30 ft³/s, highest 1,040 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Rising over 24 hours: discharge up 61%, from 94.4 to 152 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 1.62 ft stage, 183 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST (NWS gauge HEWN7; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. NC Wildlife Resources Commission publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a North Carolina rule, with N.C. Cooperative Extension's own figure added: 68°F and 70°F.
This gauge is on our page for Nantahala River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Rising water. Rising over the last 24 hours (discharge up 61%). Keep your way back to the bank in sight and watch the level while you fish. “Rising” is our rule of thumb: more than 10% in discharge or 0.2 ft of gauge height in 24 hours, not a USGS or NWS class.
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 6:21 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Freestone riverHazel Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina. Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina · about 13 mi
Freestone riverDeep Creek in autumn, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Bryson City, North Carolina. Photo: Patrick Mueller, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
North Carolina · about 19 mi
Freestone riverThe Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Delayed HarvestThe Tuckasegee River from Old River Road, Bryson City. Photo: Matthew T. Bradley, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Rough Ridge CreekAbrams Creek near the trailhead, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Scott Basford (Blinutne), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Rough Ridge Creek.
Tennessee · about 23 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Sycamore CreekThe lower Hiwassee River at Charleston, Tennessee (downstream of the trout tailwater). Photo: NPS National Trails Office, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Sycamore Creek.
Tennessee · about 23 mi
Topton, North Carolina
River cabins · 5.0 mi
Almond, North Carolina
Campground · 5.1 mi
Topton, North Carolina
River cabins · 7.5 mi
Robbinsville, North Carolina
River cabins · 13 mi
Bryson City, North Carolina
River cabins · 15 mi
